278 ANTIQUITIES 



hoes turned up great part of that large area. Instead of pots 

 of coins, as they expected, they found great heaps, the one 

 lying on the other, as if shot out of a bag ; many of which 

 were in good preservation. Silver and gold these inquirers 

 expected to find; but their discoveries consisted solely of 

 many hundreds of Roman copper-coins, and some medallions, 

 all of the lower empire. There was not much virtu stirring 

 at that time in this neighbourhood ; however, some of the 

 gentry and clergy around bought what pleased them best ; 

 and some dozens fell to the share of the author. 



The owners at first held their commodity at an high price ; 

 but, finding that they were not likely to meet with dealers at 

 such a rate, they soon lowered their terms, and sold the fairest 

 as they could. The coins that were rejected became current, 

 and passed for farthings at the petty shops. Of those that 

 we saw, the greater part were of Marcus Aurelius, and the 

 Empress Faustina, his wife, the father and mother of Corn- 

 modus. Some of Faustina were in high relief, and exhibited 



o 7 



a very agreeable set of features, which probably resembled 

 that lady, who was more celebrated for her beauty than for 

 her virtues. The medallions in general were of a paler colour 

 than the coins. To pretend to account for the means pf their 

 coming to this place would be spending time in conjecture. 

 The spot, I think, could not be a Roman camp, because it is 

 commanded by hills on two sides ; nor does it shew the least 

 traces of entrenchments ; nor can I suppose that it was a 

 Roman town, because I have too good an opinion of the taste 

 and judgment of those polished conquerors to imagine that 

 they would settle on so barren and dreary a waste *. 



* [Whether in this letter allusion is made to Mr. Sewell ; s letter now 

 printed in the Appendix, cannot be ascertained ; but it appears probable 

 that the discovery of a considerable number of Roman copper coins in 

 the year 1741 may be the same as that mentioned by Gilbert White's 

 correspondent, and that his opinion of the improbability of a Roman camp 

 having existed at Wolmer may have been suggested" by Mr. Sewell's 

 theory in its favour. The same may be said of the reference made in the 

 text to the notion that a Roman town existed in the same neighbour- 

 hood. The discovery by Lord Selborne of the immense number of Roman 

 coins, described in his paper now published, throws all former events of 



